Ahead of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) FORUM8 Rally Japan 2026, which will take place from Thursday 28 May to Sunday 31 May 2026, the Rally Japan 2026 Commission will host the ‘FORUM8 Rally Japan Support Festival @ Hisaya-odori Park’ as a pre-event fan gathering. With the aim of expanding the community of supporters alongside fans, this event will feature a diverse range of activities designed to let visitors experience the appeal of rallying. In addition to an exhibition of rally cars, we will be hosting a talk show featuring TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WORLD RALLY TEAM driver Takamoto Katsuta and his co-driver Aaron Johnston. Together with fans, they will celebrate their first victory at the Safari Rally Kenya and their subsequent victory at the Croatia Rally.
| Date and time: | Friday 22 May 2026, 13:00–16:00 |
| Saturday 23 May, 13:00–18:00 | |
| Venue: | Hisaya-odori Park (3-chome, Nishiki, Naka Ward, Nagoya) |
| Contents | <Friday 22 May> Mizube Square (13:00–16:00) ・Stamp rally with layered stamps (featuring designs of rally cars racing through the Safari Rally Kenya) ・Official Rally Japan merchandise stall <Friday 22 May> Mizube Square (13:00–16:00) ・Stamp rally with layered stamps (featuring designs of rally cars racing through the Safari Rally Kenya) ・Official Rally Japan merchandise stall 〈Saturday 23 May〉 Mizube Square (13:00–18:00) ・Driver photo session ・Layered stamp rally ・Rally Japan official merchandise stall ・Vehicle display (Vehicles on display: TOYOTA GR Yaris Rally1 and others) ・e-sports experience booth ・Exhibition corner on Iron Reck, the ‘blind combat’ game ・Red Bull sampling Media Square (13:00–16:15) ・Stage Events 13:00– Opening Stage Participants: Takamoto Katsuta (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WORLD RALLY TEAM) Aaron Johnston (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WORLD RALLY TEAM) Toshihiko Ōta, Chairman of the Rally Japan Commission (Mayor of Toyota City) Ichiro Hirosawa, Vice-Chairman of the Rally Japan Commission (Mayor of Nagoya City) 13:30–14:00 Talk Show Participants: Takamoto Katsuta (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WORLD RALLY TEAM) Aaron Johnston (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WORLD RALLY TEAM) Maggy (ABEMA Motorsport Ambassador) Satoshi Mukai (Comedian) 14:30–15:00 Radio programme broadcast across the TOKYO FM 38-station network SPORTS BEAT supported by TOYOTA (live recording) Presenters: Naohito Fujiki (TV personality) Yuri Takami (presenter/TV personality) Guest: Takamoto Katsuta (TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WORLD RALLY TEAM) 15:30–16:15: ‘Aichi Atarimae World in Sakae’ stage event (Aichi Prefecture initiative) Participants: Akari Suda (TV personality) Kosuke Machida (comic) Rio Hiraga (TV Aichi presenter) |
| Admission | Free |
| Organiser | Rally Japan 2026 Commission |
| Note | The schedule, performers and vehicles on display are subject to change. |
